Although not bred for stamina, Single Choice presents a solid prospect to deliver trainer Matt Cumani his first Group One success in the South Australian Derby.
Sired by Anders, a horse famed for rapid sprint performances, Single Choice dominated to claim the Listed Galilee Series Final (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Starting as the clear market elect, Single Choice drifted in the wagering and started at $5 as the third pick under jockey Jamie Mott, who positioned him just off the pace.
As the pace slowed initially, gaps appeared early, allowing Single Choice to surge ahead and score by 1-1/4 lengths from Arabian Prince ($3.70) with the $2.90 elect Amazake, who was caught behind and badly inconvenienced around the bend.
Earlier this preparation, the Ballarat trainer had notched his initial Group 2 Autumn Classic victory with the colt, and Cumani indicated the display justified heading to the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) on May 2nd.
“I was very nervous about whether he’d get the trip, but he got a beautiful ride by Motty,” Cumani said.
“No speed early, but they went pretty solid from the 800 (metres) out, even earlier than that and he had to sustain a pretty hard run.
“But he’s got to be of that turn of foot and that’s really valuable for a horse that can get a bit of a trip.
“I think we’ve got to go to Adelaide off that. This race was a bit of a test to see if he might get a derby distance, and even though it might not have been a solid run 2400 throughout, I think it’s provided enough of a test to say that we can go there and give it a go.”
Jockey Jamie Mott lauded the manner of Single Choice’s triumph, especially considering the gelding’s come-from-behind effort in the Autumn Classic two outings back.
“It was bit of a new scenario for him, and he adapted well, and I think if he takes his form today to the Derby, they’ll know he’s there for sure,” Mott said.
Explore the top Australian betting sites for the best markets on the South Australian Derby.